How Do You Feel About Taking Antibiotics?

It seems like everyone I know is coming down with a cold, the flu, or some other Winter sickness. Depending on the illness or how long it's been going on, some doctors may prescribe antibiotics to speed up the recovery even when you are dealing with a viral infection rather than a bacterial one. While a course of these powerful pills can help kick your sick to the curb, you may have to deal with annoying side effects such as nausea, stomach pains, diarrhea, or a yeast infection. So tell me . . .

I was always wary of antibiotics because of all the side effects, the development of resistant bacteria, and the killing off of all the good bacteria.Then, last year, I had to take them twice for a monster sinus infection and, later, pneumonia.I got clostridium difficile colitis. Now, I'm super susceptible to food poisoning (which I've had since) and stomach viruses (which I've had since). Y'all, it's super horrible.Don't take antibiotics for a cold! Your doctor may give them to you, but, we are creating monster bacteria by taking antibiotics left and right for stuff that is NOT bacterial!

I was always wary of antibiotics because of all the side effects, the development of resistant bacteria, and the killing off of all the good bacteria.
Then, last year, I had to take them twice for a monster sinus infection and, later, pneumonia.
I got clostridium difficile colitis. Now, I'm super susceptible to food poisoning (which I've had since) and stomach viruses (which I've had since). Y'all, it's super horrible.
Don't take antibiotics for a cold! Your doctor may give them to you, but, we are creating monster bacteria by taking antibiotics left and right for stuff that is NOT bacterial!

As a microbiologist, I see the results of overprescribed antibiotics all the time...we constantly see certain strains of strep or staph that are resistant to so many antibiotics that it's crazy. Doctors are at least starting to get on the ball and aren't tossing amoxicillin at every sinus infection they see. Here's my view on antibiotics: They are critical for treating certain infections (ones caused by certain strains of bacteria that can overpower your immune system very quickly) but for other mild infections, it's actually better to just let your body handle it. Your immune system is pretty capable of handling most bacteria and viruses, but if an infection is bad enough to wipe you out for more than a couple of days, you need to get to a doctor who will do a culture. The microbiologists will grow the bacteria up and do an antibiotic sensitivity to see which antibiotics are going to be the best to treat the infection. BTW--Cipro isn't only used to treat Anthrax...it's also pretty useful for most gram-negative bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella. If you plan on leaving the country and going somewhere in the developing world, get a prescription for Cipro before you go. If you do come down with some nasty bacterial intestinal thing, you can take the Cipro to wipe it out quickly. As for myself, I don't get sick. I haven't been really sick in 8 or 9 years and I haven't been on antibiotics since I was 16 and had my wisdom teeth out. They had to operate to get them out, so they prescribed some antibiotics so the incisions wouldn't get infected. If I get a sinus infection, I usually just let them run their course. But if I had a legitimate, raging, bacterial infection (like the time I had pneumonia when I was 9), I would for sure get an antibiotic to clear it up.

As a microbiologist, I see the results of overprescribed antibiotics all the time...we constantly see certain strains of strep or staph that are resistant to so many antibiotics that it's crazy. Doctors are at least starting to get on the ball and aren't tossing amoxicillin at every sinus infection they see. Here's my view on antibiotics: They are critical for treating certain infections (ones caused by certain strains of bacteria that can overpower your immune system very quickly) but for other mild infections, it's actually better to just let your body handle it. Your immune system is pretty capable of handling most bacteria and viruses, but if an infection is bad enough to wipe you out for more than a couple of days, you need to get to a doctor who will do a culture. The microbiologists will grow the bacteria up and do an antibiotic sensitivity to see which antibiotics are going to be the best to treat the infection.
BTW--Cipro isn't only used to treat Anthrax...it's also pretty useful for most gram-negative bacteria, like E. coli and Salmonella. If you plan on leaving the country and going somewhere in the developing world, get a prescription for Cipro before you go. If you do come down with some nasty bacterial intestinal thing, you can take the Cipro to wipe it out quickly.
As for myself, I don't get sick. I haven't been really sick in 8 or 9 years and I haven't been on antibiotics since I was 16 and had my wisdom teeth out. They had to operate to get them out, so they prescribed some antibiotics so the incisions wouldn't get infected. If I get a sinus infection, I usually just let them run their course. But if I had a legitimate, raging, bacterial infection (like the time I had pneumonia when I was 9), I would for sure get an antibiotic to clear it up.

There is always the weirdest "natural" option to rid yourself of a yeast infection. I swear I thought it was fake and to far fetched to be true but - umm... using the yogurt in a different manner. A plain yogurt douche.Apparently it works and is safe but my viewpoint - food does not go there.

There is always the weirdest "natural" option to rid yourself of a yeast infection. I swear I thought it was fake and to far fetched to be true but - umm... using the yogurt in a different manner. A plain yogurt douche.
Apparently it works and is safe but my viewpoint - food does not go there.

"Prevent the yeast infection by eating yogurt with live cultures while on the course of antibiotics."I did that as well as take probiotics...minus wisdom teeth all i could manage was yogurt. Unfortunately I still was struck down with the curse. Oh well, now I'm just on yogurt, probiotics, and diflucan. Fun times!

"Prevent the yeast infection by eating yogurt with live cultures while on the course of antibiotics."
I did that as well as take probiotics...minus wisdom teeth all i could manage was yogurt. Unfortunately I still was struck down with the curse. Oh well, now I'm just on yogurt, probiotics, and diflucan. Fun times!

Wackdoodle THANK you! I was just about to think this thread is incredibly irresponsible! I don't even know why the questions are phrased the way they are, no one should take an antibiotic for a virus, and everybody knows that, so I don't think that should have been factored into this. I am VERY pro antibiotic, and it would never occur to me that someone would think that meant I think they should be taken for colds. However, they are necessary for certain infections, like UTI's and kidney infections, and people can die from septicemia if they don't take them! Also, I haven't had a strep throat in about ten years, and I've never had bronchitis, but if you have strep you should take one! Yes, there can be unpleasant side effects, but antibiotics save lives. So I get scared when I see the whole health nut "I'm too holistic for antibiotics" mantra! And this is from a girl who is allergic to penicillin and gets an upset tummy when taking most antibiotics. And I really only take them once a year (for UTI ack). I did try them once for a sinus infection though, and it was pointless, so I don't think they're a total cure for some infections, but still!

Wackdoodle THANK you! I was just about to think this thread is incredibly irresponsible! I don't even know why the questions are phrased the way they are, no one should take an antibiotic for a virus, and everybody knows that, so I don't think that should have been factored into this. I am VERY pro antibiotic, and it would never occur to me that someone would think that meant I think they should be taken for colds.
However, they are necessary for certain infections, like UTI's and kidney infections, and people can die from septicemia if they don't take them! Also, I haven't had a strep throat in about ten years, and I've never had bronchitis, but if you have strep you should take one! Yes, there can be unpleasant side effects, but antibiotics save lives. So I get scared when I see the whole health nut "I'm too holistic for antibiotics" mantra! And this is from a girl who is allergic to penicillin and gets an upset tummy when taking most antibiotics. And I really only take them once a year (for UTI ack).
I did try them once for a sinus infection though, and it was pointless, so I don't think they're a total cure for some infections, but still!

I'm on them right now after having my wisdom teeth pulled, and I immediately got a yeast infection. I have to say that's a really crappy side effect that I feel like doctors don't address when they prescribe the meds. It should at least be explained or how to prevent that from happening. It's gross.

This is my viewpoint - If I want to not be sick anymore then I take the prescribed anitbiotics. If I wish to remain sick and get sicker then I don't take them.As a teen and 20-something I took loads of prescribed antibiotics because my condition warranted them. I had chronic sinus infections, tonsillitis and intestinal infections it for those it was either take the horrid pill or liquid and start to feel better or get so sick that I'd end up with permanent damage (like I have to my sinus cavity) and be in the hospital.I have always been instructed by my doctors to eat yogurt and other probiotics while on antibiotics to ward off the unpleasant side effects.The last time I took antibiotics was when I had a severe e.coli infection in my blood stream (the infection was already trying to attack and damage my heart which is the only reason I went to the doctors - my heart was racing wildly) and was given Cipro (the antibiotic you get for Anthrax). I took that for 3 days - mega watt dosage of Cipro and geez two years later I have had to take a single antibiotic since.

This is my viewpoint - If I want to not be sick anymore then I take the prescribed anitbiotics. If I wish to remain sick and get sicker then I don't take them.
As a teen and 20-something I took loads of prescribed antibiotics because my condition warranted them. I had chronic sinus infections, tonsillitis and intestinal infections it for those it was either take the horrid pill or liquid and start to feel better or get so sick that I'd end up with permanent damage (like I have to my sinus cavity) and be in the hospital.
I have always been instructed by my doctors to eat yogurt and other probiotics while on antibiotics to ward off the unpleasant side effects.
The last time I took antibiotics was when I had a severe e.coli infection in my blood stream (the infection was already trying to attack and damage my heart which is the only reason I went to the doctors - my heart was racing wildly) and was given Cipro (the antibiotic you get for Anthrax). I took that for 3 days - mega watt dosage of Cipro and geez two years later I have had to take a single antibiotic since.

I've taken them only when prescribed for a bacterial infection. Aside from making some people feel sick, they also mess with your immune system. It has to learn how to fight infections and it doesnt get that practice with the antibiotics doing all the work.

I am allergic to certian antibiotic families, and dont want to find out the hard way I am allergic to others. I can take amoxicillin (though I was allergiv to it when I was young) and cipro and thats all I know I can take and not have a rxn. I usually eat really well, and if I feel something coming on I super high dose with Vit D and sleep alot and its gone before it can even take hold! Sometimes I hate my immune system (allergies to LOTS of things) and sometime I love it (I never get sick, and if I do its QUICK)!

I am allergic to certian antibiotic families, and dont want to find out the hard way I am allergic to others. I can take amoxicillin (though I was allergiv to it when I was young) and cipro and thats all I know I can take and not have a rxn.
I usually eat really well, and if I feel something coming on I super high dose with Vit D and sleep alot and its gone before it can even take hold!
Sometimes I hate my immune system (allergies to LOTS of things) and sometime I love it (I never get sick, and if I do its QUICK)!